Method of car-cleaning



J. MAcN. WILSON.

METHOD OF CAR CLEANING. APPLICATION manmam-1919.

Patented Mar.29,1921.

lNVENTOR BY QM Eva/4 wan/W; z izww 4% ATTORNEY5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

METHOD OF CAB-CLEANING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mal. 29, 1921.

Application filed March 7, 1919. Serial No. 281,304.

new and useful Improvements in Methods of Car-Cleaning; and I do herebydeclare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a cleaning method, and has among other objectsthe purpose of increasing cii'iciency in cleaning the surface of carsand the like, preserving and restoring the finish thereof and leaving itin a brilliant condition comparable with original appearance.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be a iiparent, as itis better understood, by reference to the following specification inwhich the best modes of procedure according to my invention aredescribed, a cleaning device capable of use in connection therewithbeing illustrated in the drawing, in which Figure l is a view inperspective of a rotary power driven brush and Fig. 2 is a transversesection therethrough.

The surface of railway passenger cars become more or less discolored andstained in service and must be cleaned periodically to present areasonably pleasing appearance, as well as an economic measure to preserve the varnished surface and reduce expense of repainting. Variouscaipedicnts have been resorted to in the treatment of such surfaces.Alkalis and soapy mixtures suggest themselves but are particularlydamaging to varnished surfaces and are therefore to be avoided. Wateralone is inefficient since it removes only superficial dust or dirtleaving oil, grease or other stains to accumulate. Neutral oil andgrease cleaners with. or without abrasives are only effective when thesurface is energeticalily scrubbed therewith, which in creases laborexpenses. Neutral. oil and grease cleaners, moreover, leave a moistnondrying finish, only serving to attract and hold more dust and dirt,which with gas absorbed eventually stains the surface. So lutions ofoxalic acid in water have. been tried but are detrimental to thevarnished surface unless the latter is thoroughly rinsed. The problem ofcleaning windows is also present and none of the foregoing means issuitable for this purpose, having in mind the adjacent varnishedsurfaces which are more or less injured by careless use ofthe cleaningmaterials.

I have discovered that suitable acid solutlons may be safely andeiiiciently used in conjunction with a novel cleaning compo sition oremulsion which I have devised. This composition or emulsion is of acharacter which neutralizes any free acid remaining after thepreliminary treatment therewith and, in addition, differing from oil,provides a drying body comparable with varnish, which preserves thevarnished surface and leaves it in a condition approxianating itsoriginal brilliancy.

My composition is, moreover, of a nature which permits of its use aloneas a detergent, so that it may be employed without acid to cleanvarnished and similar surfaces. It may be used successfully upon windowswithout preliminary treatment with oxalic acid and when the latter isemployed the subsequent treatment with my composition or emulsionneutralizes the acid and insures the preservation and. restoration ofthe surrounding varnished surfaces. A. composition or emulsion which Ihave found to be well adapted to accomplish the desired re sults maycomprise certain ingredients, hereinafter specified, for which variousequivalents may be substituted. Other clnmges, such as the omission ofone or more of the ingredients or wiriation of the proportions thereof,may be made without departing from the invention, it being essentialonly that the composition or emulsion has the properties of acting as acleansing agent and providing a drying body capable of producing a dryglossy finished surface. Vl hen used in connection with a preliminarytre.tment with suitable acid, the composition or emulsion should also becapable of neutralizing any such acid remaining on the surface.

My composition or emulsion being capable of use either with or withoutpreliminary treatment with oxalic or other acid having detergentproperties, may obviously be used in connection with cleaning agents,other than oxalic acid, and such use is contemplated by me. It is myintention, therefore to include in this application the composi tion oremulsion with such variations in its composition as may be expedient,having in mind its intended purpose and the variation in the characterof surfaces to which it may be applied. It is my further intention toinclude the use of such composition or emulsion, either alone or inconnection with a preliminary treatment, with oxalic acid or othercleaning material.

In order that my invention be fully understood and practised, withoutrecourse to experiment, I shall describe a composition or emulsion whichhas provcn entirely suc- Pine oil 15.5% Paraffin or mineral oil 53.0%Lime soap-made from whale oil 13.5% Turpentine 5.5% Water 13.0%

A proportion of mineral abrasive or pulverized soap bark may, ifdesired, be included in the composition.

Such a composition, the ingredients of which are thoroughly incorporatedor emulsified, is itself a detergent and may be used for cleansingsurfaces of various kinds. It embodies sufficient oil of a dryingcharacter to form a brilliant film on a varnished sur face. This film issubstantially water and weather proof, does not collect and hold dust,and when the original varnish is not wholly destroyed, treatment withthe composition or emulsion will restore the varnish to substantiallyits original condition.

In the preferred mode of employing my composition or emulsion, thesurface to be. cleaned is first treated with a solution of oxalic orequivalent detergent acid or cleansing agent. This treatment loosens thedirt and stains without scrubbing or other labo rious treatment. Afterthe acid has remained on the surface for a short period and preferablybefore drying, the surface is coated with the composition or emulsion.This surface is then wiped clean with waste or other suitable material,leaving the surface clean and dry and with a permanent high gloss whichhas the appearance of a fresh coat of varnish.

The composition or emulsion destroys the acid remaining on the surface,so that it can I have no deleterious effectupon the varnish or metalconstruction of the car, It is not, ther fo e, e n ia o jwater follow ngthe rinse the surface with Nevertheless, rinsing may be practised, if

treatment with acid.

considered desirable, and will not adversely affect the resultsaccomplished with the emulsion following.

Under certain conditions, as where the surface is badly discolored, itis expeditious and desirable to mechanically brush the surface treated.I have, therefore, provided a device particularly adapted to theaccomplishment of this object, with a minimum application of labor. Thisdevice is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which 5 indicatesa casing supporting a spindle 6 for a turbine or similar wheel 7 adaptedto be driven by an air blast entering from any suitable source of supplythrough an inlet 8 provided with a valve 9 and exhausting through anoutlet 10. A pinion 11 connected to the turbine wheel 7 meshes with agear 12 on a shaft 13 carrying a brush 14 which is adapted to be rotatedthrough a connection with the turbine wheel 7, at a speed ofapproximately 1000 R. P. hi. Handles 15 are provided at opposite sidesof the casing 5. whereby the bristle brush 14 may be firmly held inengagement with the work or swept over it as desired, the object beingto clean the surface, rivet and bolt heads with great rapidity andthoroughness. An electrically driven portable motor will answer the sameurpose as an air motor and may be substituted therefor.

In an embodiment of my method. the surface, after preliminary treatmentwith oxalic acid or other acid or cleanser. is brushed, preferably withthe mechanical device illustrated and described herein, though possiblyby a hand scrubbing brush, until all dirt and stains have been removed.The surface is then, either following or without rinsing, coated withthe composition or emulsion herein described or its equivalent andimmediately wiped off with the waste or other suitable material leavinga dry highly polished surface My invention is particularly useful incarrying out the cleaning of car surfac s during the winter months-tSuch work is generally carried out in unheated buildings or possibly inyards, and during periods o f low temperatures the possibility offrec7ing precludes the use of water in cleaning operations. Under suchconditions l preferably mix with the acid solution a relati ely slightpercentage of commercial glycerin. for example, 2 to 1 ounces per gallonof solution. I have discovered that the addition of glycerin to thesolution precludes freezing in the coldest weather and also retardsdrving of the solution thus permitting it to more effectively accomplihits purpose. The prevention of freezing is highly important in coldweather as it materiallv reduces the labor required in cleaning cars.

The addition of glycerin is equally advantageous in summer to retarddryin of the acid solution. When the acid solution containing glycerinis employed it may be followed by a treatment with the composition oremulsion. hereinbefore described. If there is danger of freezingintermediate rinsing with water is omitted. In warmer weather anintermediate rinse with water may be employed or not as desired. As willbe noted, my method requires no water for the successful cleaning andrestoring of car surfaces. Thus, the most difficult problems in carcleaning are fully met by my invention in eliminating water andestablishing a high and dry gloss on the finished surface likewise inneutralizing the possible corrosive action of acid.

Various modifications of the emulsion composition and mechanical methoddescribed herein will suggest themselves in the application of myinvention under peculiar conditions, which may arise from time to timein cleaning surfaces of varying character. Such modifications, withinthe scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its materialadvantages.

1. A method of cleaning surfaces which comprises treating the surfacewith a cleansing agent and subsequently applying a composition theretocapable of neutralizing said agent and forming a dry lustrous film onsaid surface when the surplus of said composition is removed.

2. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surfacewith a water solution of an acid cleansing agent and subsequentlyapplying an emulsion thereto capable of forming a lustrous film on saidsurface when the surplus of said emulsion is removed.

3. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surfaceWith a water solution of an aciu and subsequently applying an emulsionembodying a neutralizing agent for said acid and a drying body capableof forming a lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of saidemulsion is removed.

a. A method of cleaning surfaces which comprises treating the surfacewith an acid cleansing agent, rinsing said surface and subsequentlyapplying a composition capable of neutralizing any remaining acid and offorming a lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of saidcomposition is removed.

5. A method of cleaning surfaces which comprises treating the surfacewith a cleansing agent, scrubbing the surface and subsequently applyingan emulsion capable of forming a lustrous film on said surface when thesurplus of said emulsion is removed.

6. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surfacewith an acid solution containing a non-drying ingredient and.subsequently applying a composition capable of neutralizing said acidand forming a dry lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of saidcomposition is removed.

7. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surfacewith an acid solution containing a proportion of glycerin andsubsequently applying a composition capable of neutralizing said acidand forming a dry lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of saidcomposition. is removed.

8. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surfacewith a cleansing agent containing a small proportion of glycerin andsubsequently applying a composition capable of forming a dry lustrousfilm on said surface when the surplus of said composition is removed.

9. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surfacewith a cleansing agent containing a proportion of glycerin, subsequentlyapplying a composition capable of forming a dry lustrous film on saidsurface when the surplus of said composition is removed, brushing saidsurface while said composition remains in contact therewith and removingthe surplus of said composition.

10. A method of cleaning surfaces which coi'nprises, treating thesurface with a cleansing agent, subjecting the surface to the scrubbingaction of a mrnwhanically driven brush while coated with said cleansingagent and subsequently applying a composition capable of neutralizingany remaining acid and of forming a lustrous film on said surface whenthe surplus of said composition is removed.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

JOHN MAoNAULL WILSON.

